Information for Referrers

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Clinical neuropsychologists have a special interest in cognition and the brain,  investigating relationships between brain function and behaviour.

Clinical neuropsychologists conduct comprehensive cognitive assessments, which measure a person’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses.  

Neuropsychological assessments measure cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, language, and executive functioning , and determine how these may impact a patient’s daily functioning.

Neuropsychological assessments are commonly used to provide information about: 

• Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., dementia,
• Neurological conditions (e.g., stroke, epilepsy, tumours)
• Traumatic or acquired brain injuries 
• Neurodiversity (e.g., ADHD, autism) 
• Learning disorders or giftedness
• Intellectual disabilities (mild, moderate, or severe) and functional capacity
• Alcohol and substance-related cognitive impairment 
• Need for NDIS access applications and funding reviews 
• Need for behavioural strategies, recommendations, and support plans
• Concerns for decision-making capacity

Referrals for neuropsychology assessment is appropriate when there are concerns about cognitive functioning.  

Some scenarios where you may refer a patient for neuropsychological assessment could be: 

• Memory Difficulties: Patients reporting significant changes in memory, attention, or executive function that affect daily activities may benefit from assessment to assess cognitive functioning and guide management strategies.

• Neurodevelopmental Conditions: Assessment can help identify neurodevelopmental conditions such as such as autism or ADHD, as well as potential learning or intellectual disabilities. Assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions can be complex, and this process is tailored to recognise, support, and understand individual patient needs in the context of neurodivergence. 

• Learning and Academic Challenges: When students experience persistent difficulties in learning and academic environments despite educational intervention, neuropsychological assessment can help identify some underlying cognitive factors which may be contributing to learning challenges (e.g., dyslexia, ADHD, or specific learning disorder).

• Neurological Conditions: For patients with known or suspected conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, or neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson’s disease, neuropsychological assessment can help evaluate their cognition and track cognitive change over time. 

• Medically Unexplained Symptoms:  Some patients present with symptoms which are difficult to attribute to a clear medical or psychiatric cause. In these cases, neuropsychological assessment can provide insight into potential cognitive contributors and help guide treatment pathways. 

• Behavioural and Emotional Regulation: Neuropsychological assessments can clarify how cognitive deficits contribute to difficulties with behavioural and emotional regulation, especially in the setting of traumatic brain injury, ADHD, autism, or some psychiatric disorders where cognitive factors play a significant role.

• Pre/Post Neurosurgical Evaluation: A neuropsychological assessment can help establish baseline cognitive function before a neurosurgical procedure (e.g., epilepsy surgery, tumour resection). Postsurgical assessments can allow for monitoring of cognitive changes over time and aid in rehabilitation planning.

• Pre/Post Medication Titration: When changes in medication are required (e.g., in cases of refractory epilepsy, autoimmune conditions, Parkinson’s Disease), neuropsychological assessment can establish cognitive functioning before, during, and after a pharmacological intervention to monitor cognitive changes over time, aid in rehabilitation planning, and inform further treatment options. 

• Other Complex Cognitive Concerns: When presenting with complex cognitive symptoms that are difficult to assess or diagnose through routine clinical evaluations, a neuropsychological assessment can provide a more detailed understanding of the patient’s level of cognitive functioning (e.g., decision making capacity). 

If you have further questions or would like to make a referral, please reach out and Contact Us.

When our thinking skills aren't working as they should, it becomes harder to complete daily tasks or live independently. 

Cognitive skills, like attention or memory, play a crucial role in shaping our identity and our ability to learn new things.  Many mood and neurological conditions can impact our cognition, making it harder to carry out daily activities. 

 At Neuroview Psychology, we deliver sessions designed to help your patient better understand their cognition, how it’s affected, and what changes they can make to help improve it. 

During the program, you will attend six weekly 1-hour sessions  in person, and be asked to complete some homework tasks. Depending on the cognitive complaint, we can help teach and practice novel strategies to aid cognition.